Method and apparatus for packaging fluid and semifluid materials



Jan. 3, 1939. J. R. GAMMETER METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PACKAGING FLUID ANI) SEMIFLUID MATERIALS Filed Oct. l5, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet l AEY Jan.3, 1939. .'1A R. GAMMETER 2,142,505

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PACKAGING FLUID AND SEMIFLUID MATERIALS Filed oct. 15, 1956 5 Sheets-'Sheet 2 R w E w. V m

4 .T0/1N R. GAMMETER "l vf/ Al RNEY 4 S m. kw mk 7M s Jan. 3, 1939. J. R. GAMMETER 2,142,505

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PACKAGING FLUID AND SEMIFLUID MATERIALS I Filed 0G12. 15, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR ATT RNEY Jan. 3, lq R* GAMMETER 2,142,505

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PACKAGING FLUID AND SEMIFLUID MATERIALS Filed oct. 15, 193e v5 sheets-sheet 4 INVENTOR JOHN R. GAMMETER ATTORNEY IJan. 3, 19g?. J. R. GAMMETER METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PACKAGING FLUID AND SEMIFLUID MATERIALS Fild Oct. 15, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVEN`II'ORIk .ToH/ v A?. GA MMETER ATTO RNEY I'15s.'ixentecl- Jan. 3, 1939 PATENT oFFlc/E METHOD AND APPARATUS FOB. PACKAGING FLUID AND SEMIFLUID John B. Gammeter, Akron, Ohio Application october 15', 193s, serial No..iossso 23 Claims.-

'I'his invention relates to a method and apparatus for packaging ice cream, butter, lard and other products of a iluid or semi-fluid nature. More particularly it relates to the continuous packaging of such products in a plurality of individual packages which are arranged in a continuous chain from which one package or a group of packages may be quickly and; easily separated.

It is an object of this invention to provides method of and apparatus for packaging uid and semi-fluid products whereby a tube-like structure of a heat-scalable material, such as rubber hydrohalide film or the like, may receive the product and be sealed at a plurality of spaced points to provide a plurality of packages Joined together at the sealed points in a chain-like arrangement.

Another object is to provide a method and apparatus wherein a quantity of material to be packaged is received and coniined within one por--y tion of a flexible, tube-like structure. additional quantities of said material being similarly received and coniined until a chain-like structure of packaged material ls`provided.

A further object is to provide an apparatus for 26 receiving material to be packaged, for forming the package which is to receive such material, for continuously passing the packaged material through a predetermined path, for sealing they packaged material at predetermined pointsI for perforating the sealed points and for conveying the nished packages out of the apparatus.

A further object is to provide means for synchronizing the various operations of the apparatus to insure continuous passage therethrough of the packaged material.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation oi the apparatus;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged section taken substantially on line 2-2 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged section taken substantially on line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged section oi' a portion of the apparatus taken substantially on line y4---4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a similar section taken substantially on line 5v5 of Fig. 2; l

Fig. 6 is a similar section taken substantially on line 6--6 ofA Fig. 2;

Fig. 7 is an enlargedplan view of a portion of the finished packages: l

Fig. 8 is a section taken on line 8 8 oi! Fig. 7: 55 Fig. 9 is a plan view, partly in section, of a por- (ci. as s) tion of a modiiled form oi' the package forming and sealing device:

Fig. 10 is a section taken substantially on line. ill-Il of Fig. 9; f

Fig. 11 is a plan view of a portion of the finished A 5 packages when formed in accordance with the devices shown ingFigs. 9 and 10:- and Fig. 12 is a section taken substantially on line i2--i2 of Fig. 11.

In practicing my invention, ice cream, butter, .10 lard or any other material, preferably in a fluid or semi-iluid state so as to iiow readily, is adapted to be fed through a pipe I0 from any suitable scurce of supply (not shown). Pipe ill has a downwardly directed portion, as shown in Fig. 1, ,15

and terminates at II,- being secured by brackets i2 to a vertically arrangedplate I3, hereinafter termed the rear plate. This plate is supported l by a table Il or the like having legs i5, brackets I6 being utilized to secure the plate rigidly to 20 the table. The legs i5 may be suitably anchored to a base, such as a 'floor (not shown). A second plate I1, termed the front plate. which preferably is considerably smallerV than the rear plate, is secured in spaced relation to the rear' plate, as 25 clearly shown in Fig. 3. A plurality of spaced bolts, nuts and spacers, indicated collectively by the numeral Il. are used to properly secure and space the front plate with respect to the rear plate, as will be understood.

Adjacent the lower left-hand corner of the rear plate as viewed in Fig. l, a roll of flexible, paperlike material Il is mounted for rotation on stub shaft 20 carried by the rear plate, and a reserve roll 2| is similarly mounted on stub shaft 22. This 35 flexible material preferably is a rubber hydrohaiideillm made in accordance with the United States patent to Calvert, No. 1,989,632, and which y is known to the trade as Plio1m, such material being transparent, moisture-prooi and readily 40 sealable by the application of heat and pressure, thereby being ideally suited for use as wrapping and packaging material. Of course, other mate- \rial having the characteristics of this rubber hydrohalide nlm. except possibly transparency 45 which is not so important, could also be utilized. When roll I9 is used the nlm 23 passes upwardly in contact with an idler roller 24, mounted on the rear plate, and over idler roller 25 similarly mounted, and is directed around pipe I0 as indi- 50 cated at 28, being passed through a conventional folding device 2'!l which causes the edges oi the film to overlap substantially as shown in Fig. 5, thereby forming a tube around pipe I0. The folding device may be held inplace by a suitable bracket 28 secured to pipe I0. When roll 2| is used the film need only pass over roller 28, as will be apparent. f

After leaving the folding device the overlapped portions oi' the film pass over rollers 29 which are arranged in a chamber 30 formed in pipe I0. The arrangement of rollers 29 will best be understood from Figs. 1, 2 and 5, particularly the latter, wherein pipe III is shown divided into two passageways 3| and 32, between whichpassageways chamber 38 is formed. The rollers 28 are rotatably mounted in this chamber on pins 33 secured in the inner walls of passageways 3| and 32, and the outer portion of each roller is preferably formed of a relatively hard rubber compound 34. Pipe III is divided into two passageways from the point 35, indicated by broken lines on Figs. l and 2, to point 38 similarly indicated, and elsewhere has but a single passageway therethrough. A

As the film passes over rollers 29 it is contacted by heated rollers 31 which are adapted to be forced downwardly and held in contact with the overlapping portions of the film to seal such portions longitudinally. 'I'he rollers 31 (Fig. 5) are formed of steel or other` suitable heat conducting material and preferably are integral with shafts 38 which are mounted for rotation in a block 39 preferably formed of copper or other material adapted to retain heat,.pins 48 being utilized to hold the shafts 38 in place. An electric heating element 4I extends into block 39 and has conductors 42 and 43 leading therefrom to a source of electric current (not shown) In order to force the rollers 31 downwardly one end. of a connecting rod 44 is rigidly secured to block 39 as at 45, the other end being secured to a piston 48 operable in the upper portion of a cylinder 41 which is secured to the rear plate by brackets d8. Piston 46 is urged downwardly by air admitted into the upper end of the cylinder, and upwardly by a coil spring 49 in the customary manner. A conduit 50 for supplying air to the cylinder will be referred to later.

By thus passing the overlapping portion of the film between rollers 29 and 31 and by applying heat and pressure thereto I am able to provide a continuous tube of film which will be completely sealed longitudinally and which extends completely around pipe I0 adjacent its outlet end. The tube of film now passes beyond the end of pipe I8 and is adapted to receive the material flowing out of this pipe which is to be packaged.

Means are provided for conveying the filled tube under a heat sealing device which seals the tube at predetermined spaced intervals whereby a plurality of linked packages are provided, and each sealed portion of the tube is perforated as it passes a predetermined distance beyond the heat sealing device. As shown in Fig..l, a motor 5| is suitably supported between legs I5 and through the medium ofI gearing (not shown) is adapted to drive a shaft 52 having a sprocket wheel 53 which receives a drive chain 54 for driving sprocket wheel 55 mounted for rotation with a shaft 58. Shaft 56 carries a second sprocket 51 which drives a chain 58, the latter being trained about a sprocket 59 to drive a shaft 88 which carries sprocket 59. As clearly shown in Fig. 3, the sprockets and chains referred to are located outwardly of rear plate I3 and the' shafts 58 and GII extend between plates I3 and I1 being suitably journaled in these plates.

Intermediate plates I3 and I1, shaft 68 carries a double sprocket 6| which drives a pair of parallel spaced chains 82 that are trained over a plurality of spaced idler double sprockets 83. As shown, four of the idler sprockets are employed, but any desired number'may be utilized whereby a substantial portion of the parallel chains will be arranged in the path of travel of the packaged material. Fig. 3 shows two of the idler sprockets 83 and sprocket 8| is identical with one of the sprockets 63 except that it is driven, and one of the sprockets 83 may be ad justably mounted to take up vslack in the chains. At predetermined spaced intervals the parallel chains 62 are provided with inwardly extending projections or flanges 84 which receive cross members 85 and are secured thereto by bolts 88, each member 85 having an upper rubber portion 81. This arrangement provides a plurality of spaced lugs spanning the parallel chains and arranged to contact and convey the filled tube whereby it maybe subjected to additional operations,

'I'he heat sealing and perforating mechanisms are preferably carried in a rectangular frame 88 which is mounted for vertical sliding movement on the back plate I3. One expedient for mounting the frame 88 is best shown in Figs. 1. 2 and 4, wherein plate I3 has a pair of substantially L-shaped vertical members 89 secured thereto by bolts 18, the arrangement providing channels 1| which slidably receive projections 12 formed on frame 88. In Figs. 1 and 2, a gib 15 is shown arranged in the right-hand channel 1I, and a plurality of regulating screws 18 engage this gib at spaced intervals to provide for proper adjustment of projections 12 within channels 1|.

'I'he heat sealing and perforating mechanisms are also mounted for horizontal movement with a panel 11, which, as best shown in Fig. 3, has projections 18 slidably mounted in channels 19 formed between the horizontal portions of frame A 88 and a pair of oppositely disposed, substantially L-shaped, horizontal members 88 secured lto the latter frame portions. A gib 8| is arranged in the upper channel 19 and is adapted to be engaged by a plurality of spacedregulatingscrews 82 to provide for proper adjustment of the members slidable in channels 19.

'Ihe panel 11 rigidly carries the heat sealing mechanism which is indicated as a whole by the numeral 83. As -more clearly shown in Fig. 3, the heat sealing device comprises a vertical portion 84 rigidly secured to panel 11 as by means of bolts 85, va tubular portion 8 8 preferably formed integral with portion 84 and extending outwardly therefrom, and a verticalv portion 81 depending from said tubular portion for movement into and out of the path of travel of the filled tube. 'I'he tubular portion 88 receives a heating element 88 therein, and conductors 89 and 98 lead from this heating element to a source of current (not shown), the portion of the device heated by the element 88 being formed of some heat-retaining material, which will quickly conduct heat to the lower surface of portion 81.

Cooperating with the heat sealing mechanism is a pair of pivotally mounted fingers 8| depending on opposite sides of the vertical portion 81 and converging whereby non-heat conducting extensions 92, preferably formed of wood or other suitable material and secured to fingers 9| by screws 83 or the like, will meet at a point below the lower surface of portion 81 when the latter is in the position shown in Figure 1. Fingers 9| are pivoted about a pin 94 projecting from and rigidly secured in a vertically slidable frame member 95, said ngers having vertical extensions 96 carrying bosses 31 which receive the ends Lugs 99 extending from frame member 05 threadably receive bolts which bear against extensions 96 and adjustably limit the outward movement of these extensions. Frame member 55 may partake of limited vertical sliding movement by virtue of projections |0| formed thereon (Fig. 4)

which are slidably received in channels |02 formed between panel 11 and a pair of spaced substantially L-shaped vertical members |03A secured to panel 11 as by bolts or screws |04. The right hand channel |02 has a gib |03' engaged by a plurality of spaced regulating screws |04' for the same purpose as the regulating screws previously referred to.

Downward sliding movement of frame member 95 is limited by a stop member |05 which is arranged to close the lower end of one of the channels I02, being secured by a bolt |05 to a lug |01 depending from panel 11. Upward sliding movement of member 35 is opposed by a coil spring |05, tending constantly to urge the member downwardly, arranged between the upper surface of member 95 and a horizontal projection |00 formed on panel 11. This limited relative movement of member 35 will again be referred to during the explanation of the operation of the apparatus.

The perforating mechanism, referred to as a whole by the numeral |I0, is also rigidly secured to panel 11, at a predetermined distance from the heat sealing means. As shown in Figs. 1,-2 and 6, the perforating mechanism comprises a vertical portion |I| .rigidly secured to panel 11 as by meansof bolts II2, a horizontal portion I I3 preferably formed integral with portion III and providing a holder adjustably to receive a serrated knife blade ||4 depending in to the path of travel of the illled packages of material. Adjustment of blade ||4 is provided for by bolts I I5 threaded through portion ||3 into contact with the upper edge of the knife blade, the latter having elongated slots I I5 which receive set screws I I1 adapted to be threaded into the holder. With this arrangement vertical adjustments of the knife blade may be quickly and easily made.

Means are provided for imparting vertical movement to the frame member 53 and parts carried thereby, whereby the heat sealing mechanism and the perforating mechanism may be moved into and out of the path of travel of the packaged material. This is accomplished by a rod I I8, the upper end of which is pivotally connected as at ||5 to a lug |20 depending from frame 58. The lower end of rod ||5 engages a pin |2I carrying a roller |22 which engages a cam |23 mounted for rotation with a shaft |24 journaled between the plates I3 and I1; Shaft |24 rotatably carries a gear |25 which meshes with a gear |25 mounted for rotation with shaft 56. Since shaft 55 is rotated when motor 5I is in operation, it will be apparent that shaft |24 will also be rotated by this motor. Pin I2I also receives one end of a lever |21 pivoted intermediate its ends to a pin |25 arranged between plates I3 and I1, the other end of said lever carrying an adjustable bolt |25 for a purpose to be described. A coil spring |30 has its lower end bearing against lever |21 as .at |3I, whi1e`the upper end of this spring bears against a horizontal projection |32 formed on rear plate I3. Coil spring |30 tends to hold roller |22 in contact with cam |23 at all times.

Means are also provided for imparting horizontal movement to panel 11 and parts carried thereby.` As shown, one end of this panel has a.v

lug |33 formed thereon and one end of a link |34 is pivoted to this lug as at I 35. 'I'he other endof link |34.is pivoted as at I 35 to one end of a lever |31 pivoted intermediate its ends to a pin |35 supported between plates I3 and I1. The other end of lever |31 carries a pin |33 on which a roller |40 is rotatably mounted, said roller engaging a 'cam |4| rotatable with shaft 55. To hold roller |40 in constant engagement with cam I4 I, a coil spring |42 has one end secured to lever I 31 on the opposite of its pivot from roller |40,

the other end of said spring being secured to a pin |43 projecting from back plate I3.

In Fig. l I have shown a three-way valve |44 secured to plate I3 by bolts |45. One port of this valve receives a conduit |45 leading to a suitable source of compressed air (not shown). Another port has a conduit |41 leading therefrom to conduit 50 which supplies air to cylinder '341, and the third port has a bleeding conduit |45 leading to a valve |43 which is controlled by a spring pressed pin |50. Valve` |45 is `closed when pin |50 is in its upper position as shown in Fig. 2, and open to exhaust air through outlet |5II when this pin is down. The adjustable bolt |29 on lever |21 is adapted to engage this pin and open valve |43 under certain conditions to be described.

A conduit |52 is arranged between conduit |41 and a conventional diaphragm switch |53 which is suitably secured to plate I3. 'I'he switch |53 has conductors |54 and |55 adapted to lead to the machine (not shown) which feeds material through pipe I0, whereby when switch |53 is closed material will be 'constantly fed through said pipe. To synchronize the operation of the apparatus shown herein with the feeding machine, conductors |55 and |51 lead from switch |53 to motor 5|, whereby when the switch is closed this motor will be-in operation.

Another conduit |55 is connected between supply conduit |45 and a valve |55. having' ports communicating with conduits' 50 and |41, an operating lever |50 being arranged to control passage of air through this valve. A second operating lever |5| is adapted to control Vthe passage of air through valve` |44.

At the extreme right of Figs. l and 2 I haveshown a portion of,y a conveyor |52 which is adapted to be driven by a chain |53 arranged between sprocket |54 rotatable with shaft 60 and a sprocket |55 rotatable with a shaft |55 journaled between plates I3 and I1. Adjacent the forward end of conveyor |52 I have arranged a shelf |51, suitably carried on plate I3', the upper surface of this shelf being in substantially the same horizontal plane as the upper surface of the conveyor whereby the packaged material may readily be conveyed across this shelf on the conveyor.

Before starting the apparatus in motion, I manually conduct the film material through the folding device and arrange a portion of the overlapping-margins to be engaged by the heated rollers 31. Now, assuming air pressure to be present in conduit |45 and valves |44 and I 55 to be closed against this air, I manually operate lever |50 to admit air into cylinder 41 and to close the port of valve |53 leading to conduits |41 and |52. This initial operation will move the heated rollers 31 downwardly into contact with the overlapped nlm material surrounding the outer end of pipe I0 without affecting the operation of other parts of the apparatus. The film,

which is` in tubular form as soon as it is sealed .longitudinally by rollers 51, is now` manually across shelf |51 and longitudinally across conveyor |62 and it'will then remain substantially straight without any appreciable sagging.

The apparatus is now ready to function and levers |50 and |5| are preferably simultaneously operated. By operating lever |55, the port in valve |59 communicating with conduit l|55 is closed while the port communicating with conduit |41 is opened whereby air may pass through vthe latter conduit into cylinder 41. l By operating lever4 |5| air is permitted to entervalvel44 through conduit |45 and to pass out of this valve through conduit |41, the port leading to conduit |45 being closed. Since the operation of levers |50 and IBI is substantially simultaneous, rollers out of contact with the film for any appreciable length of time.

As air flows through conduit |52 the diaphragm switch |55 will be closed and motor 5| will start the mechanical parts of the apparatus in motion, while material to be packaged will begin to flow through pipe I from the feeding machine. The starting position of the parts is shown in Fig.y 1, and the parallel chains 52 with lugs 51 will be moved around sprockets 55 by the driving connections previously referred to. As lugs 51 move into the path of travel of the filled tube of materialtheywill successively reach` a position directly beneath the heat sealing device 51 and will extend up into the tube las shown in Figs. 1 and 2, pushing the fluid or semi-fluid material in the tube out of .the way `until the stated position is reached. Of course, as soon as a lug 51 engages the filled tube it tends to force its way up into the tube, without breaking the nlm, and will convey the tube to the point where the lug is beneath the heat sealing device. l

Cam |25 controls the vertical movement of frame 55 to which the heat sealing and perforating devices are secured, and when roller |22 is at the point shown in Fig. 1, frame 55 and the elements carried thereby are in their uppermost positions. When cam, |23 is rotated in a counter-clockwise direction, roller |22 moves down the surface of the cam to the position shown in Fig. 2, approximately 10% of a revolution of the cam, thus lowering the heat sealing and perforating devices to the position shown in the latter figure. As the heat sealing mechanism moves downwardly, the extensions 52 on fingers 5| engage the lled tube of material in advance of member Bland forcev the tube downwardly, squeezing the material out of the way, until a portion of the film is tightly held between these finger extensions and one of the lugs,51. It will be recalled that these fingers are mounted for vertical movement relative 'to the member 51 and they can move downwardly only as far as lug 51 will permit. As soon as they reach the extent of this downward movement they remain in contact with the film, but member 51 continues to travel downwardly until it reaches the position shown in Fig. 2, spreading the finger extensions apart, and effecting a wiping action of the extensions against the mm, until the hot surface of member 51 is pressed into contact with the film.

The downward movement of the heat sealing and perforating mechanism nas not been directly vertical, because panel 11 has been subjected to some horizontal movement as will be noted by comparing the relative positions of roller |45 with respect to cam |4| in Figs. '1 and 2. Starting from the point shown in Fig. 1,'ca'm |4| has been rotated in a clockwise direction approximately, %'of one revolution, causing roller |45 to move a short distance toward shaft 55 so that spring |42 will have moved panel ,11, a slight distance horizontally'.

Roller |22, having reached its lowest position on cam |25, remains in this position while the cam rotates substantially' 60% of one revolution, as indicated in Fig. 2, and during this travel of the cam the heat sealing and perforating mechanisms remain in their lowermost position in contact lwith the film. By thus maintaining pressure and heating the film I am enabled thoroughly and effectively to seal the nlm transversely at this point, since any moisture originally between the film surfaces will have been taken care of by the continuous application oi' heat.

While cam I 25 has been rotated through 60% of a revolution as explained, cam |4| will have rotated a similar distance through the space indicated 60% on Fig. 2, and panel 11'wil1 then have moved horizontally a substantial distance. Travel of chains 52 and lugs A51 is timed to equal travel toward the right of panel 11, and accordingly the lug 51 beneath member 51 will cooperate with thev latter and with finger extensions 52 in conveying the filled .tube toward conveyor |52 during `movement of cam |4| as stated. l f

When cam |25 has rotated approximately 70% of a revolution, roller |22 begins to rise and continues upwardly for approximately 10% of a revolution, until it reaches its highest point, at which time the frame 55 and elements carried thereby will move to their uppermost position. During this upward movement of roller |22, cam |4l continues to rotate whereby panel 11 continues its horizontal movement to the right, the cam rotating an additional 10% of a revolution, bringing it to the point where it is ready to return panel 11 to its starting position. It is desirable to have frame 55 and the elements carried thereby entirely free of the packaged material before returning them to their initial position, hence, forward movement of panel11 is continued as aforesaid while the frame is being moved upwardly.

Each of the cams |25 and |4| still has to rotate about of a revolution in order to complete the first revolution, and during this last 20%, roller 22 is maintained at its highest point, see Fig. 2, until it reaches its initial position, from which position it is ready again to move downwardly. Thus, frame 55 and elements carried thereby remain at their uppermost position during this last 20% of a revolution. Roller |40, however, begins to move in the oposite direction whereby panel 11 is returned to its initial posi tion while cam |4| completes the last 20% of its revolution. It will be noted, thereforathat panel 11 moves back in about 20% of a revolution while its forward movement requires about 80% of a revolution.

This quick return of panel 11 is necesssary to permit theperforating knife ||4 to be in a position to engage the portion of the film which has Just been sealed by member 51 during the next v 2,148,5iiilv .revolution of the cams. After member l1 and the nngerI extensions have -been moved upwardly out of contact with the nlm. the lug l1 continues by itself to convey the pwngei material. as

chains 'I2 continue their travel and the sealed portion of the minis-moving forward at a dennite rate of speed, the necessity for quickly returning panel 11 to its initial position will be apparent,

and theaction of cam |4| iii such that the sealed .portion of the film will be in proper position to l be engaged by blade ||4 when the latter moves downwardly during the next revolution of cam- Thus, it will be seen that during lthe initial v revolution oi' the cams a deilnlte portion of the nlm will be 'sealed transversely and any iluid material, as wellas-iilm, which is not between this sealed portion and the outlet end of pipe il will be wasted. 0n the second revolution, however, since the initially sealed portion has been advanced whereby it will be engaged by blade ||4 and perforated thereby, and another portion of the lm will be sealed transversely through the action of member 81, there will be no further waste. and as the machine continues in operation it will seal a portion of the nlm and perforate a previously sealed portion during each revolution of the cams. Accordingly, continued operation of the apparatus will provide a plurality of packages |10 of material linked together as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. As the packages are formed, they will be conveyed by lugs l1 w the end of chains 42 from which point' they are manually directed across shelf |I1 onto conveyor |22, and the latter may lead to any desiredpoint such as a freezing unit o r storage chamber. By virtue of the perforations between the Vpackages they may be easily handled individually or in selected units by breaking the perforations at any desired points in the chain of packages. The perforations are of the type known as pin perforations wherein the film structure is incised, but no material is removed therefrom.

nism associated therewith, this valve is adapted to bleed the air from conduits |41 and |52 when the apparatus is stopped. vTo stop the apparatus lever ISI is operated whereby the port in valve |44 communicating with the supply line |46 is closed, the port communicating with conduit |41 remains open and the port leading to conduit |48 is opened. 'Ihe air in conduits |41 and |l2 will then back up into conduit |48 and if valve |49 is open so that the air may be bled therefrom the sealing mechanism 32 will rise and switch |53 will be opened, thus cutting off the motor Il as well as the machine which is supplying material to pipe Iii. However. the valve |49 may not bered that pin ISI must be depressed to open valve |49 and this pin is only depressed while roller |22 is in contact with the surface of cam |22 included within the portion indicated at 20% in Fig. 2. When roller |22 is in contact with the other portions of this. cam lever |21 will be-piv oted about .pin |24 whereby bolt |29 will not be depressing pin |50. Hence, if roller |22 is not in engagement with the portion ofthe cam |22 indicated at 20%, air will not be exhausted from conduit |48 and sufficient pressure will remain in the various conduits to keep the heat sealing mechanism 29 down and to keep switch |53 closed until the cam rotates to the point where roller |22 reaches the portion indicated at 20%. Q!

course. u mus: m u in contact with the latterl portion of the cam then lever |0| is operated to shut down the apparatus, and the latter will stop substantially instantly because valve |49 will be open to permit instant bleeding of the conduits.

In Figs. 9 and 10 I have shown portions of a modified form of apparatus wherein the film material is folded to produce a lateral longitudinal seam instead of 'an overlapping seam. '.l'his may be accomplished by passing film 23' around pipe Il'. as shown at 2l', through a conventional folding device 21 to form a tube around pipe III' with the margins of the nlm extending laterally of the tube. as clearly shown in Fig. 10. With this arrangement the heat sealing rollers 21'. as well as the supporting rollers 20', must be arranged at the side of pipe I0', as is clearly illustrated. Except for the lateral seam, this tube of mm is identical with the first tube described and passes through the apparatus in the same manner as the nrst tube. It is believed to be apparent that I have disclosed a novel method and apparatus for packaging fluid and semi-fluid materials. Not only' is the invention useful in packaging materials which are to be subsequently frozen, such as ice cream, butter and lard, but other materials such as oil, or even milk and other liquids can be satisfactorily packaged. In fact, any material that can readily be forced into the tube of film and will permit sealing of the latter at spaced intervals may be easily packaged with my inclaims.

What is claimedl is: x

l. A method of continuously packaging material which comprises forming a tube of flexible material. sealing one end of said tube, filling a portion of said tube adjacent said sealed end with the material to be packaged, heat sealing said tube while continuously moving said tube to confine the packaged material within said portion, thereafter perforating the tube through the latter seal while continuously moving said tube,

.and continuing the filling, sealing and perforating operations until a chain of packaged material with perforations between each package is provided.

2. A method of packaging material which comprises filling a flexible, tube-like container with material to be packaged, heat sealing the container at spaced points while continuously moving the container to divide said container into a plurality. oi' smaller containers joined together by the sealed portions of said original container., and thereafter perforating said sealed portions while continuously moving the container.

. 3. A method of packaging material which comprises lllng a exible, heat-sealable, tube-like container with material to be packaged, applying heat and pressure to the container while continuously moving the container to seal the latter at spaced points to divide said container into a plurality of smaller containers joined together by the sealed portions of said original container, and thereafter perforating said sealed portions while continuously moving said original container.

4. A method of packaging material which comprises continuously forming a flexible, tube-like container, continuously filling said container with material to be packaged after it is so formed, sealing the container at spaced points while continuously moving the container to divide said container into a plurality of smaller containers joined together by the sealed portions of said original container, and thereafter perforating said sealed portions while continuously moving said smaller containers.

5. Apparatus for packaging' material comprising means for forming a tube of flexible material, means for filling said tube with material to be packaged, mechanism for transversely sealing said illled tube at a plurality of spaced points thereby to provide a plurality of packages of material in chain-like formation, means removed from the sealing means for perforating the chain of packages'at one or more of the sealed points, a common means for operating said sealing mechanism Aand said perforating means, and a driven conveyor chain for moving said packages through the apparatus, said chain having a plurality of spaced lugs extending into the plane of said packages, each lug cooperating with said sealing mechanism to convey said pack ages through the apparatus.

6. Apparatus for packaging material comprising means for forming a tube of flexible material, means for filling said tube with material to be packaged, mechanism for transversely sealing said filled tube, mechanism in spaced relation to said sealing mechanism for perforating the sealed portion of said tube, and means for conveying said filled tube successively into the path of travel of each of said mechanisms, said conveying means comprising a driven chain having a plurality of spaced lugs extending into the plane of said tube, each lug cooperating with said sealing and perforating mechanisms to engage said tube.

'1. Apparatus for packaging material comprising means for forming a tube of flexible material, means for lling said tube with material to be packaged, mechanism for transversely sealing said filled tube, mechanism in spaced relation to said sealing mechanism for perforating the sealed portion of said tube, and means for conveying said filled tube successively into the path of travel of each of said mechanisms, said conveying means comprising a driven chain having a lplurality of spaced lugs extending into the plane of said tube, each lug cooperating with said sealing and perforating mechanisms to engage said tube, said sealing mechanism and said perforating mechanism being movable a predetermined distance With said tube.

8. Apparatus for packaging material comprising means for forming a tube of flexible, heatsealable material, means for filling said tube with material to be packaged, means for conveying the lled tube to a point remote from said filling means, heated sealing mechanism movable into the path of travel of said tube to seal the latter at one or more predetermined points, and perforating mechanism spaced longitudinally of the tube from said sealing mechanism and movable into the path of travel of said tube to perforate one or more sealed portions of the tube, said conveying means comprising a driven chain having a plurality of spaced lugs extending into the plane of said tube, each lug cooperating with said for sealing the filled container at predetermined points, means spaced from the sealing means for perforating the sealed points, and means for synchronizing the operation of all of said means, said conveying means comprising a driven chain having a plurality of spaced lugs extending into the plane of said container, each lug cooperating with said sealing and perforating means to engage said container.

10. In an apparatus for packaging material, the subcombination of means for sealing the package, means spaced from said sealing means for perforating the sealed portion of the package, and a common means for simultaneously operating said'sealing and perforating means.

11. In an apparatus for packaging material, the subcombination of means for sealing the package, means spaced from said sealing means for perforating the sealed portion of the package, and means for conveying the package whereby both of said other means operate successively thereon, said conveying means comprising a driven chain having a plurality of spaced lugs extending into the plane of said package, each lug cooperating with said sealing and perforating means to engage said package.

12. In an apparatus for packaging material, the subcombination of means for sealing the package, means spaced from said sealing means for perforating the sealed portion of the package, and a common means for simultaneously moving both of said means into and out of engagement with said package.

13. In an apparatus for packaging material, the subcombination of means for sealing the package, means spaced from said sealing means for perforating the sealed portion of the package, a common means for simultaneously moving both of said means into and out of engagement with said package, and a separate means for moving both the sealing and perforating means a predetermined distance while in engagement with the package.

14. In an apparatus for packaging material kwherein a flexible, heat-scalable container for the material is utilized, the sub-combination of heated means for sealing the container, means spaced from said sealing means for perforating the sealed portions of the container, and means for conveying the container whereby both of said other means operate successively thereon, said conveying means comprising a driven chain having a plurality of spaced lugs extending into the plane of said container, each lug cooperating with said sealing and perforating means to engage said container.

15. In an apparatus for packaging material wherein a flexible, heat-sealable container for the material is utilized, the sub-combination of heated means for sealing the container, means for perforating the sealed portions of the container, means for moving both of said means into and out of engagement with said container, and a separate means for moving both the sealing and perforating means a predetermined distance while in engagement with the container.

16. In an apparatus for packaging material,

the combination of a conduit for feeding material to be packaged, means for folding a flexible, heatscalable material around the outlet end of said conduit to provide La container adapted to be continuously passed by the outlet end of said conduit for reception of material to be packaged, heated sealing means for sealing the container longitudinally as it is formed around said conduit and prior to the introduction thereinto of the material vto be packaged, additional heated sealing means for sealing the container transversely after it has passed a predetermined distance from the outlet end of said conduit, and a driven conveyor chain for moving said container through the apparatus, said chain having a plurality of spaced lugs extending into the plane of said container, each lug cooperating with said last-mentioned sealing means to convey said container through the apparatus.

17. In an apparatus for packing material, the combination of a conduit ,for feeding material to be packaged, means for folding a flexible, heat-sealable material around the outlet end of said conduit to provide a container adapted to be continuously passed by the outlet end of said conduit for reception of material to be packaged, heated sealing means for sealing the container longitudinally as it is formed around said conduit and prior to the introduction thereinto of the material to be packaged, additional heated sealing means for sealing the container transversely after it has passed a predetermined distance from the outlet end of said conduit, means for perforating the' transversely sealed portions of the container, and a driven conveyor chain for moving said container through the apparatus, said chain having a plurality of spaced lugs extending into the plane of said container, each lug cooperating with said last-mentioned sealing means and with said perforating means to convey said container through the apparatus.

18. In an apparatus for packaging material, the combination of means for continuously forming a exible tube for receiving said material, means for feeding said material into said tube after it is so formed, a member extending into the 19. An apparatus as recited in claim 18 of ngers which are spread apart after they engage said tube by said heat sealing means to eect a wiping action of the iingers against the tube.

20. In an apparatus for packaging material the combination of means for continuously forming a flexible tube for receiving said material, means for feeding material into said tube after it is so formed, a conveyor chain having lugs extending into the plane of the lled tube to convey the latter through the apparatus, heat sealing means movable into the plane of said iilled tube on the opposite side from said lugs and cooperating with said lugs to seal said tube, and pressure members movable into the plane of said lled tube in advance of said heat sealing means topress the tube into engagement with said lugs.

21. An apparatus as recited in claim 20 wherein said pressure members comprise a pair of iingers which are spread apart after they engage said tube by said heat sealing means to effect a wiping action of the ngers against the tube.

22. In an apparatus for packaging material. the combination of means for continuously forming a flexible, movable tube for receiving said material, mechanism for feeding said material into said tube, means for heat sealing said tube, means for perforating the sealed portion of said tube, a common member carrying said heat sealing means and said perforating means in predetermined spaced relation, and mechanism for operating said common member to rst move said heat sealing means and said perforating means simultaneously into engagement with said ftube, then to move said means a predetermined distance with the tube, then to move said means simultaneously out of engagement with said tube, and then to return said means to their initial positions.

23. An apparatus as recited in claim 22 wherein said tube is movable in a horizontal plane, said heat sealing means and said perforating means being carried by a horizontally movable panel, a vertically movable frame in which said panel is slidably mounted, and cam means for controlling in timed relation the movements of said panel and frame.

JOHN' R. GAME'I'ER. 

